South Korea sees first birth rate increase in 9 years

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - South Korea recorded its first increase in registered births in nine years in 2024, signaling a potential turning point for a country grappling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates. The Ministry of Interior and Safety reported Friday that the number of registered births totaled 242,334 in 2024, a 3.1 percent increase from the previous year. Male births outnumbered female births, with 123,923 boys and 118,411 girls registered. Despite the

January 3, 2025

Korea reports worst flu outbreak in 8 years

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) -- South Korea is experiencing its most severe influenza outbreak in eight years, with cases more than doubling during the final week of 2024, health authorities said Friday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the number of suspected flu patients reached 73.9 per 1,000 outpatients between Dec. 22 and 28, a 136 percent increase from 31.3 the previous week. It marks the highest level since 2016, when the rate peaked at 86.2 per 1,00

January 3, 2025

Korean folk games go viral after 'Squid Game 2' release on Netflix

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Some traditional Korean folk games are garnering global attention following their appearance in the latest season of Netflix's Squid Game released last week. "Gonggi," a traditional marble game showcased in the show's second season, has become a viral sensation across social media platforms, with the term trending in global search rankings. Content creators are putting modern spins on the age-old pastime, with some using dice instead of

January 3, 2025

North Korean state media details South's martial law crisis

SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) - North Korean state media has extensively covered South Korea's "political turmoil" in the wake of last month's short-lived martial law debacle here. The official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the "unprecedented" impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now facing arrest, has paralyzed state affairs, leading to "social and political chaos" in the South. The cove

January 3, 2025

Korean cumulative overseas construction orders top $1 trillion

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - South Korea's cumulative overseas construction orders surpassed $1 trillion in December 2024, marking a significant milestone since the country's first international project in 1965, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday. The achievement is much contributed to construction companies securing last-minute contracts in December, pushing the total past $996.5 billion recorded through November 2024, despite challenging external

January 3, 2025

Investigators attempt to arrest Yoon amid tense standoff

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Investigators arrived at President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Yongsan on Friday to arrest him over his aborted martial law debacle last month. An arrest warrant requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was issued earlier this week and will expire next Monday, prompting the agency to take swift action. A team of 30 investigators left their office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, earlier in the day and

January 3, 2025

New justices on board expected to help expedite Yoon's impeachment trial

SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Acting President Choi Sang-mok's appointment of two new justices to the Constitutional Court of Korea earlier this week is expected to speed up the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law attempt last month. Choi appointed Cho Han-chang and Jeong Gye-seon from three nominees to fill vacancies at the court on New Year's Eve. With eight of the nine justices now seated, the previous requirement for a unanimous decision

January 2, 2025

PHOTOS: Yoon supporters rally to block president's arrest

SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol rallied near the presidential residence in Seoul's Yongsan district on Wednesday, protesting his impeachment and the detention warrant issued against him. A Seoul court issued the warrant on Tuesday over his attempted martial law declaration on Dec. 3. The warrant remains valid until Jan. 6.

January 2, 2025

Funerals underway for plane crash victims

SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Funerals for the victims of a plane crash in southwestern South Korea are underway, as all the victims' bodies were identified on Wednesday. The first funeral for a victim was held in Gwangju on Thursday, nearly a week after the fatal crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport which claimed 179 lives last Sunday. So far, the bodies and other remains of about 20 victims have been handed over to their bereaved families, with fune

January 2, 2025

Wave of price hikes hits food, drinks, beauty products

SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - From snacks and chicken to cosmetics, South Korean consumers are facing a wave of price hikes at the start of 2025, as companies cite surging raw material costs and rising labor expenses. Puradak Chicken, a major franchise, raised prices on 10 menu items by up to 1,000 won ($0.68) on Dec. 30, attributing the increase to higher costs of raw materials, rent, and delivery app commissions. Coffee Bean Korea increased the prices of chocolate-based beverages by

January 2, 2025